oregon

Getting out of Washington is pretty unremarkable, so we started the fun once we got to Oregon! We took I-5 all the way down to Eugene (roughly a 5 hour drive), where we cut over to the beautiful Highway 101. This is where the fun begins!


This cute little beach has been on my radar for a while. The seastacks in the distance, the crashing waves, all the driftwood! This beach was the perfect first stop! There is a small staircase down to the beach where you can dip your toes in the water, or take the trail up top for some beautiful views!




Drive further down the coast and admire the views until you reach Gold Beach. This is where you should stay night one! Drop your stuff off and head to Samuel H. Boardman for an out-of-this-world sunset! I have been dreaming about visiting the Natural Bridges here for such a long time, so this felt like a dream come true! The whole corridor is absolutely gorgeous, so you can't go wrong exploring here. We chose to head straight for the Natural Bridges for sunset. This is a picturesque spot on the corridor where the cliffs over time have formed a natural bridge (like the name suggests!). If you decide to hike down to the bridge itself BE AWARE that it is very dangerous. I do not recommend doing this! We hiked a little at the top and still felt uneasy up there. There is an actual trail if you go left out of the parking lot where you can still catch some amazing views!

day 1

Bandon Beach

Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor

redwoods

We spent the morning taking a walk in Gold Beach, beachcombing and watching the sunrise. Then we got in our Adventure Civic (as it's so lovingly named) and headed towards California. Still on the 101, but the highway curves more inward into the forest once you reach the border. 

Redwood National Park is a huge park with interspersed State Parks within. There aren't any entrance fees (or entrance stations) which makes it the perfect place to spend the day exploring!


This was our first stop on the Rewood-Tour. We just really really really wanted to drive THROUGH a tree! We found this place on Google, paid the $5 entrance fee and waited in line. It was a little underwhelming to say the least, but I'm still glad we got to experience driving through an actual tree!



Here is where the real adventure begins! Off of the 101 heading south, take the exit for the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway. This is a little detour that takes you literally inside the Redwoods! It's about a 10 mile stretch, and it goes fast! I would suggest pulling off (anywhere with a parking spot) and just wandering the trails! I knew Redwood trees were big, but you really don't feel the size until you're in the middle of them. It was one of the most awe inspiring feelings being amongst these giants!!!

Day 2

Klamath Tour Thru Tree

Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway

fort bragg

On our trip South we didn't stop here, but we did make a pitstop when we were headed back North! So although it wasn't in our original itinerary, you could still squeeze it into your roadtrip!


Glass Beach is in Fort Bragg, about 3.5 hours north of San Francisco. This beach is famous for being covered in sea glass- and let me tell you, it didn't disappoint! The most important thing is to visit at LOW TIDE! I think a lot of people who are underwhelmed with Glass Beach have come at high tide, where all the beautiful sea glass is hiding. At low tide, the ocean pulls back to reveal all of it's hidden gems! Spend time combing the beach, or take one of the trails to the cliffs and admire the amazing coast!

Glass Beach

big sur

This 90 mile stretch of rugged, colorful coastline is definitely a must-see in California. Depending on how often you stop it could take as little as 2 hours to complete the highway, but normally it takes much longer. I mean the VIEWS here are spectacular! Pro tip: before you start your trek down the highway, FILL UP ON GAS AND FOOD! We made the mistake of not having enough gas, so our drive down the highway was a little more on the stressful side. Don't be like us! Also we did the drive during the height of Covid, meaning we didn't feel comfortable getting out when there were a lot of people (and there are surprisingly a LOT of people!). 

day 3

McWay Falls

Bixby Creek Bridge

santa barbara

One of the last stops before we started booking it to San Diego was Santa Barbara. We didn't do much besides stop and get AMAZING tacos, but the city is so cute! Definitely worth a stop, or even spend a weekend here to explore the city!

The iconic bridge!!! If you have seen Big Little Lies, you know what I'm talking about. This bridge is so gorgeous set amongst the cliffs. The pull-off for parking is a little on the sketchy side, so be careful if you pull over to take pictures!

This is another ICONIC spot (maybe all of Big Sur is iconic at this point!). I mean it's not every day you get to see a waterfall flowing off a cliff straight into the ocean! This was one of those places that was just too crowded for our liking to stop. So it's definitely on my list for the next time I'm in Big Sur!